Do medical outpatients want 'out of hours' clinics?

• Published in: BMC health services research 2005-06, Vol.5 (1), p.47-47, Article 47
• Main Authors: Feeney, Claire L, Roberts, Nicola J, Partridge, Martyn R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; After-Hours Care - utilization; Aged; Appointments and Schedules; Cardiology Service, Hospital - organization & administration; Choice Behavior; Female; Humans; London; Male; Middle Aged; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital - organization & administration; Outpatients - psychology; Patient Satisfaction - statistics & numerical data; Respiratory Therapy Department, Hospital - organization & administration; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1472-6963; 1472-6963
• DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-5-47

Patient choice is a major theme in current healthcare delivery. Little is known about patients' wishes regarding the timing of medical outpatient clinics. A questionnaire survey of 300 sequential patients attending cardiac and respiratory clinics to determine patients preferences for out of hours and weekend outpatient clinics. (Out of hours defined as a clinic after 5 pm on Mon - Fri) Two hundred and 64 patients completed the survey of which 165 (62.5%) wanted either an out of hours clinics or a weekend clinic. Sixty four (38.8%) specifically stated that this was because of work commitments but for many others, the reasons given were easy to justify. Current provision for outpatient consultation may not be convenient for many patients with heart and lung disease. A fuller evaluation of the cost and benefits of more flexible clinic hours is now needed.